Thill-coupling.



Patented .Iuly l0, |900.` J. WEBTH. THILL COUPLING` (Application tiled Apr. 2, 189B. Renewed June 14, 1800.) (No Model.)

',WILIAIWMY y "mem l 2 d/ t @vih/Lamm e b B@ W woem oz ma WMZ/ L La@ mmm van),

atto/mund S u: cams Prrnns 60 mow-uma. wAsmNavou, n. C.

i; ITED STATES JOHN WERTH, or cHEsrER, VIRGINIA.

'r1-Irl LL-c-ofUP Ll NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of VLet-ters PatentvNo. 653,'598,'dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed AprillZ, 1898. Renewed J'u'nel4, 1900. Serial No. 20,379. (No model.)

ginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rPhill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description'ot the invention, such as wllenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings, and has for its object to provide a thill-couplin g which will serve to allow of the ready and rapid connection or disconnection of the thills and will also serve as a thill-support.

My invention will be -clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved thill-coupling. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, parts being removed and the thill -iron being shown as turned back to the slot in the clip and in position to be removed from the clip. This view also illustrates the position in which the thills would be supported,.the locking-disk being omitted for clearness. Fig. 3 represents a top plan View of the parts and positions shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. l.

A represents an axle-clip of the ordinary Well-known construction, having the lugs B and B formed integral with its forward side. The manner of forming these lugs is well known and needs no further description. The lugs B and B' are provided with central openings h and b', respectively. Upon the outer side of the lug B an annular enlargement or rib B2 is formed around the opening b, and a rounded lug b2 is formed upon the periphery of said annular rib BZ at its outer edge, as seen most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. A slot B0 is formed in the lug B from above and slightly to the rear, leading to the opening b in the said lug, and this slot also intersects the aunular rib B2, as seen most clearly in'Figs. 1 and 2.

C represents a portion of the thill-iron, upon the end of which is formed an integral cylindrical pin D, the ends d and d of which tit the 'openings b and b of the lugs B and B'.- The slot B0 in the lug B is made just sufficiently wideto allow of the passage of the thilliron C, as seen in Fig. 2, wherein the device is shown in such a position as to allow the said thill-iron to be either inserted or removed from the lugs.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the thill-iron will be held against turning by the walls of the slot Bo when partially withdrawn; but when in the position shown in Fig. l, which is approximately the normal position it will occupy when in use, the said thill-iron will beheld in position by the walls of the lugs B and B'.

The important part of my invention consists in the means for locking the thill-iron' against displacement when through any cause the thills are tilted backward into such a position that the said thill-irons register with the slot B0 in the corresponding lug of the axleclip. This means consists of a iiat metal disk E, the central opening of which is circular and fits the periphery of the annular rib B2 on the lug B. A notch e0 is formed upon the inner periphery of the said disk E for the passage of the lug b2 on the said rib B2, and a cam-surface e is also formed upon the outer edge of the inner periphery of said disk ad jacent to said notch e0, which passes behind the lug b2 when the disk is turned in locking the same, as will be readily understood. The said disk being continuous closes the slot Bo and prevents the accidental displacement of the thill-iron, as will be seen in Fig. l.

The disk E is provided with an extension or enlargement E so located with respect to the cam-surface e and notch e0 of the said disk that the uneven Weight of such extension or enlargement will tend to cause the said disk to rotate toward its locked position at all times and never toward the unlocking position. 1t will thus be evident that the jars imparted to the parts by uneven roads will tend to lock the disk more securely and the liability of the said disk becoming unlocked will be averted. The said disk E is preferably connected to some fixed portion of the axle-clip by means of a small chain, such as F, to prevent the displacement thereof when unlocked and detached.

When the locking-disk E is in position, the

IOG

thill-iron may be turned upward and backward and moved laterally into the slot B0, wherein the thills will be supported in an elevated position, as is desirable when the vehicle is not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with an axle-clip having a pair of lugs thereon provided with openings therethrough; an annular ring surrounding the opening through one of said lugs upon its outer side; a cam-lug on said annular ring and a radial slot intersecting the lug having the annular ring thereon and also intersecting said annular ring; of a thill-iron having a cylindrical pin with laterally-projecting ends, formed integral therewith, adapted to be inserted through said slot and the opening connected therewith; anda disk having a circular opening therethrough adapted to fit over said annular ring, and provided with an internal cam-face adapted to engage behind said cam-lug and lock said disk upon said ring, substantially as described.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with perforated and slotted lug B, having an annular ring B2 formed integral therewith concentric with the opening therethrough, and also iutersected by the slot in said lug; of a carnlug formed upon the periphery of said ring; and a disk having a circular opening therethrough adapted to t over said ring, and a cam-face along a portion of said opening adapted to engage behind said cam-lug, substantially as described.

3. In a thill-couplin g, the combination with the perforated and slotted lug B, having an annular ring B2 formed integral therewith concentric with the opening therethrough, and also intersected by the slot in said lug; of a cam-lug formed on the periphery of said ring; a disk having a circular opening therethrough adapted to fit over said ring, and a cam-face along a portion of said opening adapted to engage behind said cam-lug, said disk being also provided with an enlargement tending to hold it in its locked position, substantially as described.

4. In a thill-coupling, the combination with the perforated aud radially-slotted lug l5, having an annular ring surrounding the opening therethrough upon its outer side and also intersected by said radial slot; a cam on the periphery of said ring; and an eccentric disk adapted to fit over said ring and lock with the said cam thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof` I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OI-IN VVERTII.

fitnessesz C. K. BoWLEs, GEO. E. RUFFIN. 

